Well, what an inconspicuous piece of luggage.
In an effort to conceal your pro-sized D-SLR and attached 70-200 2.8, ThinkTank has developed another iteration of their successful Urban Disguise line -this the UD70. Bask in it’s disguised urbanity…
› posts tagged ‘Urban’
Walk This Waaaaaay!
We’re walking around pointing glass again this Wednesday, call it 6:00, in the parking lot for the abandoned Target on US 31 just south of Indianapolis. We’re working on getting a fashionably strapping young lad out to pose for us, and we’re thinking of getting a 1-light location system out with some Pocket Wizards and anyone who wants can get some hands-on experience with using a pack-and-head to overbalance the ambient daylight for some of those edgy, popular urban look photos.
As always, this is a free event, just show up with whatever camera you use and shoot away, or pin Nick and I down and we’ll give you any advice you’re seeking. Tell any photo students you might know, these are always good hands on experiences and if we can get an idea what they want to try we have a greater access to resources and such than they might. Come one, come all!
The things we do to…
Like D-mart said in a previous post, I’m borrowing his legacy prime (OM 50mm 1.8), which as forced me to move around a little more. Right now my kit is a comfortable 14-42 and 40-150, which is a 28-300 equivalent and keeps me from getting too dirty when trolling around my habitual environs trying not to chimp into chumping. Being locked into the constant focal length of 50mm on a 4/3 system is giving me a nice view of the world in telephoto, and working with an aperture wider than 3.5 is a treat.
It does, as I discussed with Mr. Martin over a pint last week, strain my discipline. I’ll be the first to say that I’m lamentable with composition, relying heavily on cranking my lenses and cropping in post. This nifty fifty (happy hun’nerd?) gave me some foot-time while I was waiting on my dearest to return from some degree related event in the morning…and as is my growing habit I took a walk to see what was around. Some waterfowl, a dramatically illuminated plaster garden statue, and a ground level AC unit.
Metal and sunlight, I like those
And while I was crouched down and trying to balance myself and get the thing in focus I felt some water dropping. Thinking of course that since I’m near an air conditioning unit that condensation will abound I went about clicking happily in oblivious (isn’t it always?) joy. I didn’t stop to consider that with a grounded AC unit there’s nowhere for water to be dripping from above. Only later did Dearest, on her return, point out that there was something on my shirt -a gift from whichever avian was perched on the sill above the unit I was photographing.
Mr. Martin’s response to this was only that I’m a step closer to being a real artist now, and to get used to it.
A Crash Course in Modern Urban Photo Slang
Chimpopotamus: someone who chimps a lot to verify composition, focus, and histograms.
Chumpopotamus: someone who misses many good shots because they’re too busy chimping
Peepachu: a person more obsessed with the pixel-level noise and sharpness than the actual photograph’s merit. Any similarities in name to an annoying 90′s fad cartoon character are not lost on us.
PhotoWalkAbout in tres partes
Hey folks, we’ll be doing the Roberts Photowalk (again, as Derek calls it, Walkabout) on Wednesday April 8th at 8am. We’ll be meeting on the corner of South and Meridian (catecorner from Indiana’s oldest tavern which rhymes with Lippery Doodle) and loitering until about 8:15, and then head off with the happy sounds of shutter clicks and mirror slaps.
Oh, and Derek’s lined up a model. Her name is Emily Allen (pictured below), and he and I are splitting the cost for her parking and time. It is against the spirit of our walks to charge admission or insist on any payment for attendance -your only monetary obligation is your parking. That said, we’ll always welcome donations and chip-ins to help pay for the model’s time in coming out to see us.
Our model for the 8th
Derek and I are both pretty excited about getting a model along for the walk. What do you folks think?
To Safari, or Not to Safari
OK, so, I gotta confess, I’m way confused here.
So, some time back Leica announced the “Safari” edition of their M8 camera:
Leica M8 Safari Edition
And then, making my rounds today I find out daddy Olympus is displaying a green E-3 over at PEI in Japan right now:
E-3 in Green, Via DCWatch
And, I’ve heard Pentax made some limited edition green cams. So, apparently Safari chic is in.
Except, oddly enough, if you ask National Geographic, whose bags have thus far exhibited that nice, “let’s go hunt lions” canvas and brass d-rings safari look. Until now, because while camera makers are saying green is the new black, NG has decided their new Walkabout line ought to be black.
So, cameras are going safari, and safari bags are going urban. Thank goodness it’s a Friday, this is the sorta quandary that’d throw my whole week off.
Universal Truth (pt. 1)
You got your toy for the holiday. Now you want extra stuff to make your toy more fun. The toy probably works to some extent just the way you got it, but that extra stuff, now that’s gonna make more useful. More fun. This is how it was with Hot Wheels, G.I.Joes, Barbies, you name it as we were growing up.
This is how it is with the toys we use as adults (I hesitate to say grown ups) too. Let’s say you got a lens shutter (point and shoot) digital camera for the holiday. (I waited for you to say it, did you say it? Say it NOW or I won’t continue.) That was to easy, NOW buy every thing that I recommend in the post. NO? Can’t blame me for trying.
So you got your new point and shoot digital. Is that it, are we done? No so, a mini tripod from Trekpod, or one of those Bogen Manfroto tripods or a way cool Joby Gorilla pod will give you so many more opportunities to exorcise your inner Ansel. An accessory case or bag can add safety and protection to your memory maker, and piece of mind to you. Extra batteries will double your next urban safari time. A car battery charger can insure that when you arrive at Aunt Tilly’s Cotillion you can capture every terpsichorial treat. Lastly do I even have to mention memory cards? Stock up our SD memory cards, and Flash Memory cards are still at holiday prices. Since you will have extra memory, get a Memory card reader so you don’t have to tie up your camera for downloading.
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